CHAPTER 39: THE SHIELD OF THE SALAZAR FAMILY

At the dinner table, Antonio knew how to heat up the atmosphere.

Everyone had things that disappointed him. Now he was staring at Roger. "Aren’t you ashamed to be naked like that? Displayed in front of magazines?"

Roger put food in his mouth without saying a word. He seemed too annoyed to answer.

"Take care of the company, help your brother, don’t play around like this! How much did they pay you for those nude photos?!"

The nude photos Antonio was referring to were photos with a slightly open shirt for a fashion magazine, which was a subsidiary of one of Salazar’s business lines.

Alexander saw that Roger was about to explode. He immediately held him back and replied, "I asked him to do it. He’s a model, I took advantage of him. And what’s wrong with that? You have a handsome grandson with a great body."

Antonio shook his head, unimpressed. "Of all the companies, why are only Alexander and Malvin in charge? How many grandchildren do I have? This is really disappointing!"

Everyone sighed quietly. Nathan looked around. The heat was getting worse. He himself still held a grudge because his butt hurt now.

The room was filled with the sound of forks and knives scraping against plates and Antonio’s irritation. No one spoke. Occasionally, they answered when asked a question. The atmosphere was strained.

Nathan quietly looked around him. The atmosphere at dinner was more tense than at a funeral reception. Now Antonio seemed to have run out of things to complain about, so he focused on his food.

But he spoke again when the main course was finished. He looked at Nael and Nathan. Both of them immediately tensed up.

"You’re seventeen years old, right? Come with me. You have to start learning about the business world. I’ll take you with me when there’s a meeting," said Antonio.

Alexander put down his fork. He knew what meeting Antonio was referring to. The old man always invited them all, and that was one of the reasons they didn’t want to be involved in his business.

The meetings were usually held exclusively at a club. And God knew what happened inside. Alexander knew everything. He was used to it; his younger siblings had already experienced it. But he didn’t want to let Nathan and Nael get involved at this point.

"They’re still too young. They’d better focus on school," Alexander refused.

Antonio frowned. "Why? They have to know their family business and make connections with people."

"No, not this early."

Antonio sighed in disagreement. "They’ll come with me. You’re making your younger brothers weak! You know that."

Alexander placed the napkin a little hard on the table. "I know what they need. You don’t have to force them into your world. They will learn when the time comes."

The atmosphere became so tense.

Antonio fell silent, staring intently at Alexander. He seemed a little surprised by the man’s outright refusal.

"I’m sorry, but I will take care of both of them. You don’t need to worry. And I will not let them come with you before they reach twenty-one years old, at least," Alexander continued.

"Alex—"

Antonio was about to speak, but Alexander cut him off. "You see what happened to Lucas. He’s still traumatized even now. You can’t take everyone with you, Grandpa."

"Bullshit!" Antonio retorted loudly, startling everyone in the room. "Traumatized? What traumatized him? Huh?!"

The man stared at Lucas, who was looking down. The boy who was known for being the most mischievous was now just sitting there silently.

Nathan and Nael didn’t know what Alexander meant, or why the man was insisting on forbidding them. Although they were grateful that they didn’t have to go with their grandfather, they were also curious.

Alexander looked calm. "I’m serious, I won’t let Nathan and Nael join your activities at this time. Nathan still needs to adapt to us, and they are still too young for that. So, I ask for your understanding."

Antonio shook his head. "I really can’t believe this. You spoil them all. This is what happens when you continue to shield them! I wouldn’t be like this if my youth had been this weak!"

Alexander took a breath. "I know what I’m doing, Grandpa. I will make sure all your businesses run smoothly and grow. But enough about me, let them live their lives the way they want."

Antonio looked even more annoyed. "What are they here for if they only embarrass the family? What do they want to be? One is a prostitute, likes to be naked, the other doesn’t want to work, take care of the business. What do they want to be?!"

This time Roger couldn’t hold back. He threw his napkin, stood up—making the chair creak loudly—and walked out. He knew that if he spoke, it would only lead to a never-ending war of words.

"Roger! What are you doing? You have no manners! Sit down!" Antonio ordered. But Roger just walked away quickly, leaving the dining room.

"Damn kid! Damn it!" Antonio cursed, making Nathan tense up.

Alexander took a deep breath. "I’m done. We can talk if you want. Let them rest," Alexander pleaded.

Antonio remained silent. His face was stiff, breathing heavily as if holding back anger.

Alexander motioned for his younger siblings to leave. And they immediately left without being told, of course.

When they were finally alone, with only a few guards in the room, Antonio finally sighed.

"Control your emotions, Grandpa. You’re not young anymore," said Alexander.

Antonio grumbled, "You’re the one who’s going to kill me early!" He grabbed his cigar and lit it.

"Well, things aren’t like they were in your day. You know that. Kids are more sensitive—"

"Because you made them weak! You always protected them like babies!" Antonio cut him off.

Alexander exhaled slowly, steadying himself before he spoke again. His voice dropped into a calmer, firmer register, one that carried the authority Antonio himself had instilled in him.

"Grandpa," he began, choosing his words with the caution of someone defusing a bomb, "you’ve spent your whole life surviving things that should’ve killed you. I know that. We all know that. But that life, you forced yourself through it alone. You carried that burden alone."

Antonio puffed out smoke, the tip of his cigar glowing like a small, angry ember. "And? Are you saying you can’t do the same? You’re supposed to lead this family, Alexander. Not cry about the weight."

Alexander tightened his jaw. "I’m not crying about anything. I’m telling you that I will carry it. All of it. But my brothers won’t."